Electronics-to-textile interconnection method and system

Abstract

An apparatus and method to reliably attach an electronic module to a textile. The overall mechanical assembly of the invention includes: (a) light pipe, (b) top enclosure, (b) magnet, (c) main electronics which contains (d) the main PCB, (e) battery and (f) other electronic components, (g) bottom enclosure, which holds (h) the connector PCB, (i) module dock, (j) top textile PCB which are located above the (j) textile band and under the (k) textile pocket and the (l) bottom textile PCB and (m) fabric and laminate padding, which are located below the textile band. The invention is physically embodied by an electronic module, comprising at least one printed circuit board (PCB), comprising at least one conductive circuit and at least one electronic component; a metallic rivet, grommet or eyelet to mechanically and electrically connect the; and a textile substrate with at least one electrically conductive circuit.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A docking station assembly for providing a releasably secure connection between an electronic controller device and one or more conductive pathways of a textile substrate comprising:
 a module dock station having a body fixedly connected to a substrate assembly mounted on the textile substrate, the body exposing an electrical dock connector configured for mating with an electrical controller connector of the electronic controller device; 
 the substrate assembly comprising:
 a first substrate positioned to one side of the textile substrate within a textile pocket that includes one or more first electrical connection locations, such that the one or more first electrical connection locations of the first substrate are aligned with the one or more conductive pathways, the first substrate having the electrical dock connector mounted thereon and electrically connected to the one or more first electrical connection locations by one or more respective substrate conductive pathways; 
 a second substrate positioned on the other side of the textile substrate opposite the one side, the second substrate having one or more second electrical connection locations aligned with the one or more first electrical connection locations; and 
 one or more respective fasteners fastening the one or more second electrical connection locations with the one or more first electrical connection locations, thus fixedly securing the textile substrate between the first substrate and the second substrate; 
 wherein the one or more first electrical connection locations are in electrical contact with the adjacent one or more conductive pathways, 
 wherein the textile pocket is sized for the module dock station to fit snugly therein, 
 wherein the textile substrate comprises at least one of an active electronic component, a sensor, or a circuit, 
 and wherein the one or more respective fasteners are electrically conductive and in physical contact with the one or more conductive pathways. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The docking station assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the textile pocket is preferably a structure which is raised above an adjacent surface of the textile substrate and fabricated by knitting into a knit structure of the textile substrate. 
     
     
       3. The docking station assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more respective fasteners are rivets. 
     
     
       4. The docking station assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first electrical connection locations are eyelets or grommets leading to the electrical controller connector via the one or more respective substrate conductive pathways. 
     
     
       5. The docking station assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more respective substrate conductive pathways are traces of PCB circuitry, such that the first substrate is a PCB. 
     
     
       6. The docking station assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the textile substrate is incorporated into a garment selected from the group consisting of: a band; underwear; a bra; and a shirt. 
     
     
       7. The docking station assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a releasable mechanical connector located on the body, the releasable mechanical connector facilitating a releasably secure mechanical connection between the controller device and the body. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical dock connector mates with the electrical controller connector via a pin and socket configuration.